McBain Hoping to Follow Father’s Footsteps to NHL

Toronto Jr. Canadiens rookie forward Jack McBain is being touted as a possible early pick in the 2018 National Hockey League's Entry Draft. (Andy Corneau/OJHL Images)

Should he continue to progress, Jack McBain is expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a professional hockey player.

During his 13-year pro career, Andrew McBain appeared in 632 National Hockey League contests. He played for four NHL franchises: the Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators.

As for the younger McBain, he’s been earning rave reviews in his rookie season with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, members of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

The 17-year-old forward produced almost at a point-per-game clip, earning 41 points in 42 regular season outings. And the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder is being tabbed as a potential pick, possibly even a first-rounder, for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Andrew McBain was chosen in the first round, eighth overall, at the 1983 NHL draft.

The younger McBain said he’s yearned to become a pro player for as long as he can remember. And he’s thrilled that many others believe his dream will eventually become a reality.

“It’s obviously an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “It’s still a ways away. But it’s really cool that’s a possibility.”

McBain has also been pleased with how his OJHL rookie campaign has transpired.

“It’s been really good and I’ve had some good opportunities,” he said.

Those opportunities have included competing in a pair of prestigious tournaments.

For starters, McBain was picked as an assistant captain for one of the three Canadian entries that participated in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this past October in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. But after playing in one tournament game McBain was sidelined as he discovered he had suffered a broken hand in a league game a few days beforehand.

Not long after recovering from his injury, McBain got another opportunity to don a Canadian jersey. He cracked the roster of the Canada East team that ended up winning the silver medal at the World Junior A Challenge, staged in December in Bonnyville, Alta.

Jr. Canadiens head coach Jeff Angelidis said he noticed a significant change in McBain after he returned from Bonnyville. He was no longer the quiet 16-year-old who had primarily kept to himself early on in the season.

“Once he got back in mid-December, he was very vocal in the room and on the bench,” Angelidis said. “I don’t want to say he was like an assistant coach but he started telling guys what to do, things like finishing their checks.”

Though he’s not wearing a letter for the club, McBain, who turned 17 in early January, has become one of the leaders on the team.

“It just took him some time to navigate through the league,” said Angelidis. “He’s really stepped it up since the month of January and [has continued that play into] the playoffs.”

McBain racked up 10 points in seven games as the Jr. Canadiens downed another Toronto franchise, the St. Michael’s Buzzers, in their opening playoff round.

In March, McBain also committed to Boston College, starting with the 2018-19 season. It remains to be seen whether he’ll return to the Jr. Canadiens next season.

He could possibly head to Nebraska to play for the Lincoln Stars, who own his United States Hockey League rights.

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